It’s Like This

Hot Air
November 3, 2024
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV)
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

Takeaways

• The Father’s word is the same to all: “Follow the Son.”

• The kingdom of God is not made up of the religious, but the repentant.

Earl Palmer Quote
It is better to finally believe what at first I could not say than to say at first what I do not believe.

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
It remains to be seen how we can retrieve this disaster. The great thing you can do is to prevent his doing anything. As long as he does not convert it into action, it does not matter how much he thinks about his new life. Let him even write a book about it. That’s often an excellent way to sterilize the seeds which the Enemy (God) plants in a human soul. Let him do anything but act on it. No amount of piety in the imagination will harm us.

Revelation 3:15, 19-20 (NIV)
“I know your deeds … . So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”